At 19:08 13/07/05 +0100, Tim Young wrote:
>Do any list members have any information on the metallurgical use
>of peat? I have been searching for any practical information on the
>use of peat in the smithy. I have found some somewhat anecdotal
>information indicating the use of peat charcoal in the past, but am
>looking for something a little more concrete.
Tim,
In the silver mines at Bere Ferrers, in south Devon, in the early 14th
century 'moor coal', i.e. peat, brought down from Dartmoor was the main
fuel for general smithing but, where high quality finished work was
required, mineral coal was imported by sea; being referred to as 'sea coal'
in the accounts. Charcoal had replaced both sea coal and peat by the 1340s,
probably on grounds of cost. Peat was also used extensively in the smelting
of tin so was, initially at least, ready available to the silver mines.
The principal sources for the use of peat at Bere Ferrers is Exchequer
Accounts (E101) in the PRO (now National Archives), Kew - E101/260/19,
E101/261/10, E101/261/2, E101/263/5 and 8.
The smelting of lead in the ore hearth, mid 16th century through to the
early 20th century, also used large amounts of peat. It was the favoured
fuel in the Pennine mines from Yorkshire northwards, and there are numerous
published references. See, for example, Willies and Cranstone, Boles and
Smeltmills (1992).
Peter
______________________________________________
Dr Peter Claughton,
Blaenpant Morfil, nr. Rosebush, Clynderwen, Pembrokeshire, Wales SA66 7RE.
Tel. +44 (0)1437 532578; Fax. +44 (0)1437 532921; Mobile +44 (0)7831 427599
Hon. University Fellow
School of Historical, Political and Sociological Studies (Centre for South
Western Historical Studies)
University of Exeter
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Mining History Pages - http://www.exeter.ac.uk/~pfclaugh/mhinf/
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